Hull construction



y 28, 1942- l. ZUCKERMANN HULL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2' 1, Jill.

INVENTOR AYTORNEYS y 1942- l. ZUCKERMANN 2,291,274

HULL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT E E'ICE HULL CONSTRUCTION Isidore Zuckermann, New York, N. Y. Application July 8, 1940, Serial No. 344,445

2 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in ship hull constructions.

An important object of my invention is to provide a ships hull which may be adapted to menof-war or other large seagoing vessels and which includes a protective jacket or armor uniquely adapted to resist torpedoes, submarin mines, storms, collisions, and explosions which will render the ship substantially unsinkable.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hull construction of the above-mentioned character which includes provision for rendering the same buoyant even though the hull should be pierced by a torpedo, or the like, below the water line.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a hull construction which is not only buoyant but which is strong and durable to withstand th bufietings of storms and heavy seas encountered by all seagoing vessels.

Other objects and advantage Of my invention, will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ship constructed in accordanc with my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a side elevation, showing parts in section, of an inflatable rubber tube comprising a part of my invention,

Figure 5 is a perspective view, showing parts broken away, of a pontoon comprising a part of my invention,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of a hull embodying my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral IE! designates a ship of the large seagoing type. The hull H of th ship is made of steel and is of conventional shape and construction. For

the purpose of the present invention the hull is formed of steel plates of a thickness best determined by the size and type of vessel. In cross-section, the hull includes vertical side walls 12 and I3 the lower edges of which are rounded,

all

as at I4, and connected by a substantially flat 55 bottom portion l5. The side walls of the hull extend substantially above the water line, designated by the numeral l6, and the upper edges thereof are connected by a transverse top ll.

In order that the hull may have a maximum of protection from torpedoes, collisions, explosions, storms, mines, gun fire, and the like, I have covered the same with a plurality of laminated or superimposed layers of various unique materials which serve as a shield or armor. The outer surface of the hull is first covered with a layer of cork 13 which may be from one to several inches thick. As best illustrated in Figure 7, the layer of cork extends upwardly along the side walls l2 and l3 of the hull to a distance substantially above the water lin it. I hav here illustrated the same as terminating flush with the lower deck of the ship. The layer of cork I8 is enclosed by a superimposed essentially thicker layer of hard rubber l9, which layer l9 extends the same distance above the water line as the cork layer [8.

A plurality of steel beams 29 extend transversely of the hull in laterally spaced relation with each other and at a height substantially equal to the top edges of the cork and rubber layers l8 and 19. The central portion of the beams extend between the side walls [2 and [3 cf the hull and the ends thereof extend beyond the side walls to support the pontoons 2|.

All of the pontoons are identical in their construction and a detailed description of but one is, therefore, thought to be sunicient. As best illustrated in Figure 5, the pontoon comprises a box-like structure of wood or similar material, in-

cluding elongated substantially rectangular top and bottom walls 22 and 23 connected by fiat rectangular end panels 24 and side panels 25. The joints between the walls and panels may be sealed, as illustrated in Figure 8, by an overlapping strip 26. A plurality of the pontoons are suspended from the projecting ends of the beams 20 in longitudinal alignment with each other and in a manner to entirely encircle the hull.

An essentially thick layer of concrete 2'! encloses the layer of rubber is, which last-mentioned layer extends upwardly along the side walls of the hull to abuttingly engage the bottom wall 23 of the pontoons. In order that the concrete may be made more buoyant, I have provided a plurality of inflatable rubber tubes 28 which are imbedded in regular superposed rows in the layer 21. The tubes are of cylindrical formation and the opposite ends thereof are sealed by the transverse walls 28. Valves 30 carried by the end walls of the tube permit air under pressure to be introduced therein, and a plurality of tubes are concatenated in longitudinal alignment by the couplings 66, whereby the connected tubes define a row which extends entirely around the hull. As best illustrated in Figure '7, the concatenated circlets or rows of tubes imbedded in the concrete are arranged in closely placed superposed relation with each other. The layer of concrete is, therefore, materially lightened by the honeycombing effect of the multiplicity of tubes imbedded therein and the buoyancy of the layer is increased by the presence of air or other gas within the tubes.

Superimposed layers of soft rubber 3| and elastic rubber 32 thereafter successively enclose the hereinabove-described layers. The soft rubber layer 3| extends upwardly along the sides of the hull and outwardly around the projecting outer side walls 25 of the pontoons to terminate flush with the upper wall 22 thereof. The layer of elastic rubber 32 similarly extends upwardly along the sides of the hull and outwardly around the portion of the layer of soft rubber enclosing the pontoons 2|. The layer 32, however, extends above the pontoons and the upper marginal edge 33 thereof is bent inwardly to abuttingly engage the ends of the steel beams 26.

The outer surface of the layer 32 is provided with longitudinally extending strips 34 of sponge rubber which pass entirely around the hull and. in substantially vertically spaced relation with each other to provide a plurality of air chambers 35 therebetween. The strips extend upwardly along the sides of the hull to substantially the water line and are replaced above the water line by a solid layer 36 of sponge rubber, the upper marginal edge of which last-mentioned layer follows the contour of the outwardly projecting portions of the layers 3| and 32. A layer of elastic rubber 31 is next superimposed on the strips 34 and layer 36 to entirely close or seal the air chambers 35. The upper marginal edges of the layer 31 similarly project outwardly and around the upper margin of the layer 36 and the edge 38 thereof is turned inwardly over the edge of the layer 36 to abuttingly engage the outer surface of the layer 32. The rubber strips 34 permit a certain desirable yieldability or resiliency between the layers 32 and 31 and the air chambers therebetween materially increase the buoyancy of the hull.

Upon the elastic rubber layer 31 I have provided a layer of asbestos 39, and the layer of asbestos is in turn covered by a thin metallic sheet material 46 of aluminum, or the like. The outer metallic layer lends a pleasing appearance to the hull and provides an essentially rigid shell which holds the inner and softer layers fixedly in place. The upper edges of the layers 3|, 32, 36, 31, 39 and 46 which extend around the pontoons 2| form a gunwale or bumper 4| which projects from the surface of the hull to prevent the same from being battered or damaged when lying along side a pier or dock, or when a collision occurs between ships or between a ship and a floating object. The asbestos layer 39 disposed directly within the outer shell 46 is adapted to prevent the inflammable inner rubber layers from being set afire in the event that the hull is torpedoed or that the decks or other inflammable parts should be set in flames as a result of the explosion.

A double layer of pontoons 2| are suspended from the portions of the steel beams 26 ext n i g between the side walls of the hull, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7, and the layers of pontoons are separated by a sheet of cork 42. A plurality of transversely extending wooden beams 43 are disposed in supporting relation below the bottom layer of pontoons and the opposite ends thereof are supported by angle braces 44. The upper beams 26 and the lower beams 43 hold the pontoons firmly in place and tightly packed to prevent inadvertent or accidental displacement of the individual pontoons in each layer. The pontoons entirely close the hull and a layer of concrete 45 covers the steel beams 26 to provide a floor for the lower deck of the vessel.

The space 46 below the wooden beams 43 comprises the hold of the vessel, which hold is lined with superimposed layers of materials in the following manner. The inner surface of the steel hull H is lined with a layer of cork ll and the inner surface of the cork layer is lined with a layer of hard rubber 38. The innermost layer comprises a concrete shell 39 having a plurality of vertically spaced rows of inflatable rubber tubes 28 imbedded therein. The tubes comprising each row are connected in the same manner as the rows of tubes contained by the outer concrete layer 21. A sheet of asbestos 56 is preferably secured to the undersides of the wooden beam 43 to finish the hold and to provide an entirely fireproof enclosure.

The portion of the sides l2 and I3 of the hull which extends above the concrete floor 45 is traversed by the upper deck floor beams 5| the ends of which are supported by angle braces 52. The ends of the beams extend through the sides of the hull and the projecting ends are supported by vertical braces 53. The vertical braces 53 and the extending ends of the upper deck floor beams are suitably connected, as by the angle clips 54, and provide an outer promenade deck. The bottoms of the beams 5| are covered by a layer of asbestos 55 and vertically spaced layers of closely packed pontoons 2| are disposed thereon. A layer of cork 56 is interposed between the layers of pontoons and the steel beams 51 extending between the side walls of the hull above the pontoons hold the same in fixed association with each other. A layer of concrete 58 covers the steel beams 51 and provides a floor for the upper deck. Pontoons 2| are also arranged exteriorly of the sides of the hull, in the manner illustrated in Figure 7, which last-mentioned pontoons are enclosed by an outer fireproofing layer of steel or concrete 59.

Each of the layers comprising the hull may be separated by a plurality of sheets of Cellophane, or like material, which sheets are essentially strong and flexible and serve to hold the individual layers in proper association with each other.

The unique formation and composition of the several layers which surround the hull of the vessel provide an essentially thick and resistant armor therefor. The superimposed layers of hard and soft rubber permit the armor to yield under a severe impact but, at the same time, present a tough and substantially unpenetrable barrier for a shell or torpedo. A shell or torpedo does the greatest damage when it strikes a solid and unyielding object such as the eighteen inch wall of solid steel which now comprises the hull of most 'large vessels. If the hull is enclosed by a plurality of inherently yieldable and resilient layers which absorb the shock of the shell or torpedo, the damage to the hull is materially lessened. The various layers enclosing the hull may be applied directly to the hull when the vessel is constructed or they may be easily and expeditiously added thereto after the vessel is finished. The layers of armor may even be applied to a ships hull after the same has had several years of active service. The myriad of air chambers 35 disposed near the outer surface of the armor will materially increase the buoyancy of the hull even in the event that the same is penetrated by a shell and the inner layer 21 of concrete will offer further and substantial resistance to a shell. The manner in which the layer of concrete is honeycombed with inflatable tubes 28 will aid in preventing the hull from sinking even though entirely penetrated by a shell. The inner layer of concrete 49 serves the same purpose as the outer layer 21.

In the event that the hull and protective armor should be penetrated and substantial quantities of Water permitted to enter the hold 46, the double layer of pontoons interposed between the steel and wooden beams 20 and 43 will afford sufiicient buoyancy to prevent the hull from sinking entirely below the surface of the water. The manner in which the pontoons are entirely enclosed by fireproof material will substantially limit the possibility of their being destroyed by fire. The pontoons below the upper deck, i. e., those interposed between the steel and wooden beams 57 and further add to the buoyancy of the hull in the event that the Vessel is shelled and becomes swamped.

It is to be understood, that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a ship having a metallic hull forming shell, a layer of cork applied to the interior and the exterior of the said shell, a layer of hard rubber covering each cork layer, a layer of concrete applied to cover each of the said hard rubber layers, a covering of yielding and elastic rubber applied to the exterior layer of concrete, and a metallic shell covering the yielding rubber.

2. In a ship hull construction, an inner metal shell, a layer of cork applied to the exterior of the said shell, a layer of hard rubber covering the said cork, a layer of concrete having air containing cells applied over the hard rubber, a layer of yielding rubber covering the said concrete layer, a layer of elastic rubber applied over the yielding rubber, a plurality of spaced strips of yielding and resilient material disposed in spaced relation against the exterior of the elastic rubher, a covering of resilient rubber applied over the said elastic strips and forming air chambers between the said strips, and an exterior metal shell covering the said outer layer of resilient rubber.

ISIDORE ZUCKERMANN. 

